F2M2

Ok peeps, I need some help with a little endeavor.  Tanji Patton (the former SA news anchor) is having a contest - the person who can get the most people to sign up for her newsletter will get a big fat Viking mixer!!!  I know what you're thinking . . . "Margie does not cook and she sure as heck doesn't bake!"  You would be correct.  However, I know people who do and I would love to win this for a very special person who could really use this mixer.  In fact, signing up for the newsletter is a win/win because you will get great recipes and "wine pairing ideas" - so, you can't lose!  :)
Sign up here ---> http://goodtaste.tv/newsletter/

I would love it if you could help out on this one!  Click on the link below and enter your information to receive the newsletter.  In the last box, "Referrer's Email" - please put my email - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thanks to all of you!  OH!!!  And the drawing is March 1st, so please do this at your EARLIEST convenience….like now...;))

Have a great week…:))

How many of you work (or live) in an environment where there is a candy jar nearby . . . or a little tray nicely decorated with colorful (sugary) treats? It's hard for you to walk by and not take one of those little treats, isn't it?  I mean . . . how much bad can one teeny tiny piece of chocolate or candy do to your body?  Right? How about this - each one of those bite sized goodies can be anywhere from 80 to 150 calories.  What do you think those calories consist of?  Definitely not what your body needs.

Think about it --- in those 150 calories you are basically getting zero nutrition.  And are you likely to JUST have ONE candy . . . throughout the day?  I'm going to put my money on 'no'.  That 150 calories can go a long way in terms of nourishment for your body AND actually make you feel satisfied when you make healthy choices.

Many of you will have some sort of Valentine's celebration that involves food.  Good guess, huh? ;))  So with that in mind, just do your best to stick to two to three 150-200 calorie meals on Tuesday in an effort to save up your calories for dinner.  And if you think you're going to go a little crazy on Tuesday, be sure you work on a calorie deficit today (Monday) - eat smaller, healthy meals, and get your workout(s) in to get you ready to take on a little extra during your Valentine outing. 

And if you're like me, working your booty off on Valentines day & night - be sure to plan ahead and pack healthy meals and snacks to get you through the day.  You will no doubt be surrounded by unhealthy treats at a time when you are tired and ready to reach for anything . . . have your survival food kit armed and ready!  Your body will thank you! 

On a side note:  I will not be teaching Monday's (2/13) 10:30am Bootie Kick class because I will be teaching a class at the downtown location. Since I will miss you at 10:30am, M2 is bringing out the CRAZY pants for the Monday 5 and 6pm kickboxing classes!!!  Don't miss it - I will be looking for you!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!


Have a great week…:))

It is not uncommon that I get a few emails a week asking for help because someone has hit a plateau in their exercise routine.  In recent weeks, it seems like that number has doubled.  Many individuals who come to kickboxing, run on the treadmill, use the elliptical, etc. - start feeling really excited and motivated when they start losing weight . . . but that motivation quickly turns into frustration when the weight loss slows and they hit that fitness plateau. 
     If you are coming to the gym and doing the same exercises every day - you will start to see results . . . in the beginning.  At the point when you're body has grown accustomed to the routine, it will stay stagnant . . . just like your exercise routine.  That is an indication that you need to change things up, push yourself harder, adjust your diet, and introduce weights (if you haven't already) in your routine.  The point of a workout is to challenge your body and work it differently, so that you are working each muscle - and working it differently.  My kickboxing routines are altered within the week to adjust for exactly that . . . and to keep you interested and focused on the next move.  M2 always has a strategy…;))
     The point here is that you can't expect your body to burn more if you are not working harder.  And working harder includes altering your diet and making your workouts more challenging.  One way to get the best of both worlds is to try Pure Strength.  If you need this challenge (who doesn't?), sign up for the last half of the Winter session - there are 6 weeks left!  My PS groups are currently on a diet challenge and I have to say - doing it with the support of a group has been really helpful to all of the participants.  For those of you who have approached me and asked about Pure Strength (and there are quite a few of you), now is a great time to try it out - sign up for a half session and find out what it is all about. 
     I realize starting anything new is scary, but there is NO reason to not sign up for this class.  We have men and ladies at all different fitness levels (from beginners to distance runners) and you go at your own pace . . . with MY guidance.  I won't leave you stranded and I won't ask you to do something I know you can not handle.  Find someone who attends PS and find out first hand.  It floors me when I think of how frequently I hear someone say that they don't think they are ready for a class like this . . . that is EXACTLY the purpose of this class - to help you achieve your fitness goals in a balanced way.  The goal is to build muscle - not so you can compete in muscle competitions (we're not that extreme), rather so that your muscle can burn fat more effectively.  Weight training in this form is essential to losing weight - right alongside a cardio routine like kickboxing.

You have this week to get on board as we begin the last 6 weeks next Monday, February 13.  Sign up today and try it out!!!

Pure Strength Classes
Choose 2 or 3 days a week - pick any day and time that works for you.  Classes are offered on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5am or 3:45pm.

2 classes/week - $200
3 classes/week - $300

It ain't all peaches and ice cream.  Life is life - it is the experiences you go through day in and day out.  While we all have our routines, many of our day to day experiences are unpredictable . . . and even our responses to some of that randomness is unpredictable as well.  We respond in a way that does not reflect who we are as a person.  Life can make us into someone we are not . . . someone we don't want to be and often times into the very opposite of who we are on the inside.  This is what happens when you allow life to control you rather than taking control yourself.

So how are you going to respond the next time you are met with a challenging memory/relationship/injury/situation?  It is time to take control.  Whether you have had a bad day or a litany of bad experiences - it is time to change your response.  Don't worry - I don't expect you to do it alone.  Even M2, the machine that I am…;)) needs help getting through rough patches in life.  Even if you are the type who is not good at asking for help - it's time . . . your current situation . . . how is that working for you?  If you can honestly say that you are on the right track and are not letting anything hold you down, then great!  But I suspect that we all could use a little extra support in our lives.

A really good friend of mine is dealing with a pretty serious situation and needed a release.  She wanted Cheetos and a Diet Dr. Pepper.  In the past, she has always gravitated towards something like this - an unhealthy snack and a soda.  This time - rather than justifying that unhealthy decision - she realized she had a choice . . . and y'all - she has worked REALLY hard to achieve where she's at right now.  So, what did she do?  She sent me and another friend a text - we both responded and encouraged her to take control of the situation (reaching for that snack & soda, obviously, was not taking control).  Another friend was able to get on the phone with her to ease her stress and encourage her to make a good CHOICE . . . and she did.  The end.  Only . . . it's not the end.  She will face more challenges, but she reached out for support and when she did she developed a new pattern, a new routine and one that will reward her in the weeks, months and years to come. 

We are all going to face challenges in our lives and 90% of us are dealing with issues we've had since we were kids.  There is no excuse or justification that flies for the bad eating habits/cigarettes/alcohol/Gossip (this can easily have a negative impact on your life) - what ever your vice.  We are all affected by our experiences and they never leave us . . . some of us wouldn't want them to as they have shaped who we are today.  Perhaps we would have chosen a different life if we HAD the choice, but we didn't and those experiences are ours . . . forever.  But NOW we have the CHOICE . . . and it affects your forever starting this very moment.  If you have been carrying around extra weight (literally and figuratively), it is time to take control of your decisions and your life.  If I can do it, you can do it - I know you can.  It is not easy, it takes a lot of effort and you will need support.  But it is achievable.  What do you have to lose?

"It's been a hard day's night . . . and I've been working like a dog!"  Does anyone else feel like they are living this song?  So much work, so little time - as I am sure everyone experiences from time to time.  Although last week was quite hectic, I felt great!  This challenge has me (and many others) eating cleanly.  And with limited options, we are all sharing new recipes and discovering and trying things we would have otherwise not tried.  The enthusiasm everyone is sharing is really the driving force behind everyone's success just with the first week . . . as you know, the first week is usually the toughest.  It is just very refreshing to be around such positive attitudes and encouraging people.

Which reminds me of an old blog I posted not so long ago.  We have discussed the buddy system - finding a friend to help encourage you and make you accountable for your workout routine.  We are beginning the fourth week of the new year and while the gym is still hopping with new year's resolutions and the promise of a more fit form, this is usually the time when people begin to get off course.  It is easy to get sidelined and off track - it happens to all of us . . . why do you think I started the 10 week challenge for my Pure Strength group?  What is essential is getting back on track and focused on your goal.  And sometimes you just need a little help and encouragement.

In these next couple of weeks, if you feel like your commitment is starting to shake a bit, rely on a friend to hold you accountable.  Make an appointment with the gym and keep it.  You have worked hard to achieve where you are at this point, so don't throw it all away.  We all work like dogs and we all get tired . . . but you need to stay active to keep your mind and body healthy - it's actually the best thing for you when you are feeling run down!

Have a great week…:))